By Al Kamen
Wednesday, August 11, 2010; A15

As Loop Fans know, many jaunts by congressional delegations (codels) overseas are not much more than taxpayer-paid vacations. But many others are actually working trips. (There’s a handy guide on how to tell which is which.)

For example, a bipartisan House delegation took off for Haiti on Friday to check conditions there seven months after the horrific earthquake that devastated the country. The group was led by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and included GOP Reps. Roscoe Bartlett (Md.) and Aaron Schock (Ill.), along with Democrats David Price (N.C.), Yvette Clarke (N.Y.) and Donna Edwards (Md.).

Even in the best of times in Haiti — and these are definitely not — going to Port-au-Prince in August is not a good idea. The average high temp is 93.2 degrees (pretty much like here, it seems) and, worse, it’s the rainy season. That might be why the group left Friday morning and came back that same afternoon.

Still, they toured, reviewed the relief effort and met with U.S. and Haitian officials, including “the President of Haiti, Jean Preval, at the National Palace,” according to a news release from Hoyer’s office. A long day’s work.

It would appear that Préval didn’t make much of an impression on the group, since his first name is actually René. On the other hand, could be they’re thinking ahead to a win in November by presidential candidate Wyclef Jean, the immensely popular three-time Grammy winner and hip-hop musician.

There’s little doubt that the Haitian-born, U.S.-raised, now-reported-to-be-40-year-old Jean, who runs an aid foundation for Haiti, would win the presidency. Probably would be a good idea if he settled up with the IRS and other people on some tax matters. The various taxes owed come to about $5 million, according to South Florida CBS News affiliate WFOR and the Smoking Gun Web site.

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COMMENT: HAITIAN-TRUTH.ORG

How can anyone make a fact-finding mission, hitting Haiti, in the morning, and departing in the afternoon??

A businessman could even complete an medium-level type of business meeting, in this time, when one recognizes the problems of moving around Port-au-Prince now.

Really stupid!

Another waste of taxpayer’s money